Cole Hamels will throw a live batting practice session on Sunday, as the injury-plagued southpaw might yet still have a chance to factor into the 2020 season. Braves manager Brian Snitker told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman and other reporters that “We’re just looking to get through a couple live BPs and see how he is,” perhaps wisely not setting even a speculative timeline given that Hamels battled shoulder issues during Spring Training and is currently on the 45-day injured list recovering from left triceps tendinitis. Bowman speculates that Hamels likely won’t start pitching in simulated games until next weekend at the earliest, so the left-hander might not be able to join the Braves until roughly the last 7-10 days of the regular season.
It makes Hamels into a total wild card for Atlanta’s playoff drive, though with the club looking to have a good shot at the postseason, it isn’t out of the question that Hamels could be part of a playoff roster. Having a former World Series MVP coming out of the bullpen would be quite an interesting wrinkle for Atlanta, though Hamels has only worked as a reliever twice in his 439 career games in the regular season and postseason.
Some more injury situations from around baseball…
- Jorge Soler left tonight’s game due to what the Royals described as right oblique soreness. This is the second time in four days that Soler has exited a game due to such an injury, and perhaps on a related note, Soler is hitless over his last eight plate appearances. Soler has been a few steps behind his big 2019 numbers this season, though he is still hitting a solid .237/.333/.459 with eight homers over 159 PA.
- The Rays have been plagued by pitching injuries this season, and two more hurlers ran into potential issues on Saturday. Newly-acquired southpaw Cody Reed left tonight’s game during the eighth inning with an injury to his pinkie, though manager Kevin Cash told MLB.com’s Jose Toribio (Twitter links) that the problem doesn’t appear to be serious. The news isn’t as good for left-hander Shane McClanahan, as the prospect will miss around two weeks after suffering a hyper-extended left knee during a fielding play at the Rays’ alternate training site. The 31st overall pick of the 2018 draft, McClanahan got some top-100 prospect attention from Baseball Prospectus and Baseball American prior to the season, and there was some speculation Tampa Bay might give the 23-year-old his first taste of big league action sometime in September.
- Marlins outfielder Harold Ramirez had to be carted off the field tonight after suffering what the club described as a left hamstring strain. Ramirez suffered the injury while trying to beat out a grounder during the fifth inning of Miami’s 7-3 win over Tampa Bay. Playing in just his third game of the season, Ramirez was only activated off the injured list today, as he was one of the many Marlins players sidelined after positive COVID-19 tests.
- Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided reporters (including ESPN’s Marly Rivera) with updates on injured sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, saying that Judge will increase his baseball-activity work on Monday. Stanton, who Boone feels is “a little ahead of Judge” in terms of readiness, has already been taking part in baseball activities and is now running at 80 percent as he continues his recovery from a hamstring strain.
Their problems is not hitting generally, but it’s been pitching, including golden boy Cole. Yes I know they scored only once tonight, but an Ace would allow one less run than opposition.
It was also 1 earned run. He gets out of that inning if Estrada doesn’t throw that ball to 10 feet to the right of Voit.
And their problem is 100% hitting, the offense is pitiful and when they can’t score runs it makes Cole and the other pitchers have to be perfect.
Bullshit. Expecting your pitchers to always allow a run less than you score is naive.
The pitching has been bad
Lol, expecting a shut-out..lol..wtf man, come on. That has to be written sarcastically. You can’t possible mean that. And Cole never shuts-out anyone..ever!! Coming from a pittsburgh-er who still has a picture of his 1st pitch in MLB on his phone somewhere. He gives up way too many HR’s. He strikes out a ton of batters and is a bulldog on the mound; very competitive. And a horse. Big dude, eats innings, his body can handle the high pitch counts. He reminds me of Roger Clemens. But I don’t believe Clemens was a big “zero runs”, “shutout” pitcher either.
I bet Clemens career ERA is in the mid-low 3’s. Same w/ G.Cole. Big strike-out Pitchers though. And like I said, Bulldogs on the mound. Very similar in my opinion.
I lived through the Clemens best times, m he pitched the game ALSWAY he NEEDED to pitch, an ACE!! I am not talking bout Clemens in the late 90s- he wasn’t the same. But regardless, it isn’t just Cole, cuz he’s done well till lately, it’s all the other pitchers.
I lived through Clemens too buddy..I’m 38 years old.
Then it must have been a wonderful experience too
Yankees wheels are coming off the bus. Even the lowly Orioles are beating them.
Oh they fell off about week ago. Said bus is on fire.
Longer than that. They’ve been diving for about three weeks now.
As I’m watching the game now, the NYY problems are pitching. Even the announcers say the same thing
What team are you watching? Ford,Sanchez,Wade,Estrada,Hicks,Gardiner, Tauchman are all hitting under .200 Torres as well.
The Twin Roid Boys are on the IL (again).
Voit,DJ and Frazier are all they got.
Agreed, the offense has been anemic aside from those 3. Plus Stanton, Judge, Sanchez, Hicks can’t hit against better pitching in the post season.
Roid boys?
where do you get this “twin road boys” crap?
Yankee jealousy all over again! Same day different “expert” voicing their “knowledge” all over again!
If they were on roids, wouldn’t they be healthy most of the time? Not an expert though.
No not necessarily look at players like judge and Stanton who are almost too big they are constantly hurt. More muscle usually leads to more injury.
They are fieldng a team full of minor leaguers and bench players every night.
A lot like last year except last year everyone they plugged in last year performed for whatever reason. If I was a Yankees fan I don’t know that I’d panic just yet they have a lot of talent but I’d be concerned that the same players keep ending up on the IL. Not the guys you like to remove from your lineup either.
Yankees crash & burn and finish under .500 for the 1st time in how long?
They’ll still make the playoffs with 8 teams getting in.
Maybe not. They keep losing 2 out of 3 in every series, they’ll drop out of it entirely.
Hahaha Baltimore has that spot at this rate
Who really cares about the Stankees?
clearly you, bozo
The Yankees are always injured. Poor physical trainers. Needs to be resolved and quickly.
What’s funny is they fired the training staff from last year and hired a new one.
Paging Dr. Boone. How’s the patient doing? He’s not dead yet. Excellent work Dr. Boone.
What is running 80%? Asks the runner who’s gone over 67,000 miles. I’m just curious Dr. Boone.
Oh the yankee has a first name,
It’s A A R O N,
And the yankee has a last name,
It’s J U D G E,
And the yankee has a hamstring,
It’s BELOW KNEE!
Funny how this post is also about the Braves, Rays, Marlins, and Royals, and all anyone can focus on is the yankees
I suppose it’s a symptom of the Yankees having won 1 world series in the last 19 years yet they still talk like they can field 2 teams of generational players all whilst imploding yet again.
Who talks like this ?
Cliff Clavon?
Nothing against either the writer or the player he commented on however;
Come on Mark P…..regarding your written story comments on Jorge Soler……..how exactly do you hit a “solid” .237?
Braves pitching rotation and lack of upgrading it it showing its ugly face right now. We are abusing our bullpen and it’s taking a toll on them
yup…its not changing anytime soon. Get use to it…
This is sports and a rumor site. I don’t have to remotely get use to it. This is the one spot in life where complaining non-stop in graved into the nature of humanity …
Engraved* lol
I absolutely agree…its not changing until the Braves have an actual Owner….i.e. someone like Arthur Blank! lol…come on Arthur, make it happen…
Stanton and Judge need to get back and play.. strains and pain are a part of this game.. Ripken threw out the first pitch today. A warrior a guy who played through probably a lot of pain. These candy ass players need to toughen up..
Hello Yankees, Write off this year and trade anyone and everyone for some pitching. If your not sure how to do that, put in a phone call to Tampa Bay or go international and call Toronto. 2020 is a disaster and start looking forward to 2021.
Suuurrre because TB is going to hold new york’s hand and show them how to acquire pitching.
The yankees should instead focus on how to not spend 76 billion on a unbalanced roster.
Depth is the name of the game!
GO RAYS!!!
To me it just looks like Cashman’s master plan was to NOT give up anybody to GET “somebody”…..and due to the new playoff format they are supposed to be a shoe in to the playoffs.. yeh well dont loo now but Baltimore and Detroit….YES DETROIT are knocking on their door for the last playoff spot in the AL.. I do not remember in a ling time that they have looked so lost and in such dispensary and just a mess. There is nothing working for them. then with 2 guys on base on down 3 runs…he lets Kratz bat. Why didnt he pinch hit Sanchez for him. yeah yeah I know..Sanchez is had been horrible…but is he capable of hitting a 3 run homer????. Kratz looks like a single A batter. we are going nowhere in the post season..thats IF we even get there